Series · thriller

Rachel Hatch

by L. T. Ryan

The Rachel Hatch series by L. T. Ryan has 15 known books (15 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Drift (2021). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Switchback. L. T. Ryan wrote the series; books 1-15 were co-written with Brian Shea; book 10 were co-written with Fiona Ryan.

Books
15 known books (15 novels)
Published
15
First published
2021
Status
ongoing
Shelved under
Last checked

Start here: Drift (2021) — then read straight through in publication order.

Reading order

The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.

  1. Book 1:

    Drift

    Novel

    Drift is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea that opens the Rachel Hatch series, first published in 2021. It's followed in the reading order by Downburst. It's the natural place to begin the series, which has continued since.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Drift
  2. Book 2:

    Downburst

    Novel

    Downburst is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the second book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2020. It follows Drift and precedes Fever Burn in the reading order.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Downburst
  3. Book 3:

    Fever Burn

    Novel

    Fever Burn is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the third book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2020. In the reading order it comes after Downburst and before Smoke Signal.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fever Burn
  4. Book 4:

    Smoke Signal

    Novel

    Smoke Signal is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the fourth book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2020. It sits between Fever Burn and Firewalk in the reading order. It runs 234 pages.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Smoke Signal
  5. Book 5:

    Firewalk

    Novel

    Firewalk is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the fifth book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2020. It sits between Smoke Signal and Whitewater in the reading order.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Firewalk
  6. Book 6:

    Whitewater

    Novel

    Whitewater is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the sixth book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2021. In the reading order it comes after Firewalk and before Aftershock.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Whitewater
  7. Book 7:

    Aftershock

    Novel

    Aftershock is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the seventh book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2021. It follows Whitewater and precedes Whirlwind in the reading order. It runs 216 pages.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Aftershock
  8. Book 8:

    Whirlwind

    Novel

    Whirlwind is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the eighth book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2021. It sits between Aftershock and Tsunami in the reading order.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Whirlwind
  9. Book 9:

    Tsunami

    Novel

    Tsunami is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the ninth book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2022. It sits between Whirlwind and Fastrope in the reading order.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Tsunami
  10. Book 10:

    Fastrope

    Novel

    Fastrope is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Fiona Ryan, the tenth book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2023. It sits between Tsunami and Sidewinder in the reading order. It runs 228 pages.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fastrope
  11. Book 11:

    Sidewinder

    Novel

    Sidewinder is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the 11th book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2024. It follows Fastrope and precedes Redaction in the reading order.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sidewinder
  12. Book 12:

    Redaction

    Novel

    Redaction is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the 12th book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2024. In the reading order it comes after Sidewinder and before Mirage.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Redaction
  13. Book 13:

    Mirage

    Novel

    Mirage is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the 13th book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2025. It sits between Redaction and Faultline in the reading order.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mirage
  14. Book 14:

    Faultline

    Novel

    Faultline is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the 14th book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2025. It sits between Mirage and Switchback in the reading order.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Faultline
  15. Book 15:

    Switchback

    Novel

    Switchback is a novel co-written by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea, the 15th book in the Rachel Hatch series, published in 2026. It follows Faultline and is the most recent entry in the series to date.

    Alternative text for cover: Cover of Switchback

About the Rachel Hatch series

Rachel Hatch is a former Army interrogator attached to an elite Green Berets team, now working as a Wyoming-based investigator whose military intelligence background and physical toughness pull her into cases far bigger than they first appear -- corrupt officials, environmental cover-ups, human trafficking rings, and conspiracies that reach into federal agencies. L.T. Ryan created the character with police detective and fellow thriller novelist Brian Shea, whose own procedural background shapes the series' investigative texture, and the two have co-written nearly every full-length entry together since the series launched in 2019.

Each book is titled after a natural-disaster or extreme-weather term -- Downburst, Firewalk, Whitewater, Tsunami -- which doubles as a loose thematic signature for the danger Hatch walks into. The series has grown into one of Ryan and Shea's most commercially successful joint projects, running to fifteen novels by 2026 with new installments still arriving roughly twice a year.

Frequently asked questions

Who writes the Rachel Hatch series?

L. T. Ryan wrote the series; books 1-15 were co-written with Brian Shea; book 10 were co-written with Fiona Ryan.

Who writes the Rachel Hatch series?

L.T. Ryan co-writes the series with Brian Shea for almost every entry. One book, Fastrope (2023), was co-written with Fiona Ryan instead of Brian Shea.

What order should I read Rachel Hatch in?

Publication/numbered order, starting with Drift. A prequel novella, Fractured, and two later short stories are not required reading and aren't tracked on this page.

How many Rachel Hatch novels are there?

This page tracks 15 full-length novels, from Drift (2021) through Switchback (2026).

Is Rachel Hatch connected to L.T. Ryan's other series?

It shares the same broader thriller universe as Ryan's Jack Noble and Bear Logan books in spirit and tone, but can be read entirely independently.


Reading order last verified .